Packaging device for semiconductor and electronic components

ABSTRACT

A packaging device includes a reel member for winding a tape-type carrier with semiconductor and electronic components attached thereon. A protective band is formed as a corrugation, is disposed to surround the carrier, and has upper and lower edges abutting against upper and lower plates of the reel member so as to brace the plates from being deformed when the packaging device is accommodated in a protective jacket in a vacuum state, thereby preventing damage to the semiconductor and electronic components.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a packaging device for semiconductorand electronic components, more particularly to a packaging deviceadapted for accommodating a tape-type carrier on which the semiconductorand electronic components are attached.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Referring to FIG. 1, in the manufacture of semiconductor andelectronic components, a conventional packaging device, which isgenerally used for storing and transporting the semiconductor andelectronic components 10, is shown to include a tape-type carrier 11 onwhich the components 10 are attached, a reel 12 for winding the carrier11, and a protective jacket 13 for accommodating the reel 12. Air in theprotective jacket 13 is pumped out to result in a vacuum state. However,the reel 12 is likely to deform, thereby damaging the components 10.

[0005] To solve this problem, referring to FIG. 2, a protective band 2is provided to surround the carrier 21 with semiconductor and electroniccomponents 20 attached thereon and to brace upper and lower plates ofthe reel 22. An adhesive tape 24 is provided to connect two ends of theband 2. However, the bracing effect that is provided by the protectiveband 2 is insufficient to prevent deformation of a periphery 221 of thereel 22 in a vacuum state of the packaging device. Moreover, theattachment operation of the adhesive tape 24 on the protective band 2 isinconvenient to conduct.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a packagingdevice that can accommodate a tape-type carrier on which semiconductorand electronic components are attached without damaging the componentsin a vacuum state of the packaging device.

[0007] According to this invention, the packaging device includes a reelmember, a protective band and an engaging member. The reel memberincludes a hub which extends along an axis in an axial direction to beadapted for winding of a tape-type carrier with semiconductor andelectronic components attached thereon and which has upper and lowerends opposite to each other in the axial direction, and upper and lowerplates which respectively surround and extend radially and outwardly ofthe upper and lower ends and which are spaced apart from each other inthe axial direction so as to cooperate with the hub to confine anaccommodation chamber thereamong that is adapted to accommodate thecarrier when the carrier is wound on the hub. The protective band haslengthwise ends opposite to each other in a lengthwise direction, andupper and lower edges which are disposed between and transversely of thelengthwise ends and opposite to each other in a widthwise direction. Theprotective band has a first flexibility in the lengthwise direction, anda second flexibility in the widthwise direction which is smaller thanthe first flexibility. The upper and lower edges respectively abutagainst and extend angularly and along the upper and lower plates so asto enclose the accommodation chamber and brace the upper and lowerplates. The protective band is formed as a corrugation which includesridges and grooves alternately arranged in the lengthwise direction soas to increase abutting areas of the upper and lower edges to the upperand lower plates. The engaging member includes first and second engagingportions which are respectively and integrally formed with thelengthwise ends for engaging each other when the upper and lower edgesrespectively abut against the upper and lower plates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional packaging device;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a partly cutaway perspective view of anotherconventional packaging device;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of apackaging device according to this invention when an engaging member isdisengaged;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a protective band of the firstpreferred embodiment in an engaged position;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment;

[0014]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a protective band of a secondpreferred embodiment according to this invention; and

[0015]FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic views of protective bands of third andfourth preferred embodiments according to this invention, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the first preferred embodiment ofthe packaging device according to the present invention is shown tocomprise a reel member 32 made of a rigid plastic material, and aprotective band 3 made of a non-rigid plastic material. The reel member32 includes a hub 322 which extends along an axis in an axial directionto be adapted for winding of a tape-like carrier 31 with semiconductorand electronic components 30 attached thereon, and which has upper andlower ends opposite to each other in the axial direction, and upper andlower plates 321 which respectively surround and extend radially andoutwardly of the upper and lower ends of the hub 322 and which arespaced apart from each other in the axial direction so as to cooperatewith the hub 322 to confine an accommodation chamber 323 thereamong foraccommodating the carrier 31 when the carrier 31 is wound on the hub322.

[0017] The protective band 3 has lengthwise ends 33,34 opposite to eachother in a lengthwise direction, and upper and lower edges 35,36 whichare disposed between and transversely of the lengthwise ends 33,34 andopposite to each other in a widthwise direction. The protective band 3has a first flexibility in the lengthwise direction, and a secondflexibility in the widthwise direction which is smaller than the firstflexibility. Once the carrier 31 has been wound on the reel member 32,the protective band 3 surrounds the carrier 31 such that the upper andlower edges 35,36 respectively abut against and extend angularly andalong the upper and lower plates 321 so as to enclose the accommodationchamber 323 and brace the upper and lower plates 321. The protectiveband 3 is formed as a corrugation which includes ridges and groovesalternately arranged in the lengthwise direction so as to increaseabutting areas of the upper and lower edges 35,36 in relation to theupper and lower plates 321. In this embodiment, the protective band 3has a cross-section in a wave shape. As such, when a protective jacket37 is provided to accommodate the packaging device therein, and ispumped out of the protective jacket 37 to result in a vacuum state, thebracing effect of the protective band 3 is sufficient to brace the reelmember 32 from deformation, thereby preventing damage to thesemiconductor and electronic components 30 while maintaining aneconomical packaging cost.

[0018] In addition, an engaging member includes first and secondengaging portions which are respectively and integrally formed with thelengthwise ends 33,34. In this embodiment, the protective band 3 isformed with a first slit 331 which is adjacent to the lengthwise end 33to form the first engaging portion, and which extends from the upperedge 35 toward the lower edge 36 to terminate at a first abuttingportion 332, and a second slit 341 which is adjacent to the lengthwiseend 34 to form the second engaging portion and which extends from thelower edge 36 toward the upper edge 35 to terminate at a second abuttingportion 342. The first and second engaging portions are inter-engaged inthe axial direction such that the second abutting portion 342 abutsagainst the first abutting portion 332. As such, the engaging operationof the lengthwise ends 33,34 is convenient to conduct.

[0019] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, the second preferredembodiment of a protective band 4 of the packaging device is shown tohave a notch 442 which is formed in one lengthwise end 44 thereof, and aprotrusion 432 which is formed on and which extends from the otherlengthwise end 43 thereof to be inserted into the notch 442 in atransverse direction relative to the lengthwise and widthwise directionsso as to be retained in the notch 442 in the lengthwise direction.

[0020] Alternately, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the protective bands 5, 6can have cross-sections in a square wave shape or in a zigzag shape.

[0021] While the present invention has been described in connection withwhat is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it isunderstood that this invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements includedwithin the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations andequivalent arrangements.

I claim:
 1. A packaging device adapted for accommodating a tape-typecarrier on which semiconductor and electronic components are attached,said packaging device comprising: a reel member including a hub whichextends along an axis in an axial direction to be adapted for winding ofthe carrier and which has upper and lower ends opposite to each other inthe axial direction, and upper and lower plates which respectivelysurround and extend radially and outwardly of said upper and lower endsand which are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction so asto cooperate with said hub to confine an accommodation chamberthereamong that is adapted to accommodate the carrier when the carrieris wound on said hub; protective band having lengthwise ends opposite toeach other in a lengthwise direction, and upper and lower edges disposedbetween and transversely of said lengthwise ends and opposite to eachother in a widthwise direction, said protective band having a firstflexibility in the lengthwise direction, and a second flexibility in thewidthwise direction which is smaller than the first flexibility, saidupper and lower edges respectively abutting against and extendingangularly and along said upper and lower plates so as to enclose saidaccommodation chamber and brace said upper and lower plates, saidprotective band being formed as a corrugation which includes ridges andgrooves alternately arranged in the lengthwise direction so as toincrease abutting areas of said upper and lower edges in relation tosaid upper and lower plates; and an engaging member including first andsecond engaging portions respectively and integrally formed with saidlengthwise ends for engaging each other when said upper and lower edgesrespectively abut against said upper and lower plates.
 2. The packagingdevice of claim 1, wherein said band is formed with a first slit whichis adjacent to one of said lengthwise ends to form said first engagingportion, and which extends from said upper edge toward said lower edgeto terminate at a first abutting portion, and a second slit which isadjacent to the other one of said lengthwise ends to form said secondengaging portion and which extends from said lower edge toward saidupper edge to terminate at a second abutting portion for abuttingagainst said first abutting portion.
 3. The packaging device of claim 1,wherein said first engaging portion is a notch formed in one of saidlengthwise ends, said second engaging portion being a protrusion formedon and extending from the other one of said lengthwise ends and havingsuch a configuration so as to be inserted into said notch in atransverse direction relative to the lengthwise and widthwise directionsand so as to be retained in said notch in the lengthwise direction. 4.The packaging device of claim 1, wherein said band has a cross-sectionin a wave shape.
 5. The packaging device of claim 1, wherein said bandhas a cross-section in a square shape.
 6. The packaging device of claim1, wherein said band has a cross-section in a zigzag shape.